| Conclusion Summary |
|
On September 19, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that staff were lining up to go outside, but Child A did not line up and sat in a chair at the table instead. Staff "swept" the room but did not see her as they transitioned to the playground. In less than 2.5 minutes, the supervisor of the neighborhood walked into the classroom, retrieved Child A, and took her to the playground. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations that occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision"
and
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3. which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On September 23, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins completed an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Mary Mulkey, Coordinator Tequila Boyd, and Child A. Mary stated that she first heard about the concern from Tequila. She heard that last Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Child A was left alone in her classroom before the class transitioned outside for recess. Caregivers Aime Nzayikorera and Deyonna Johnson were Child A's primary caregivers on September 17, 2025. She heard that Child A was originally counted in attendance during the name-to-face count before leaving but that Child A had to use the restroom and left the line. During this time, Aime and Deyonna did not make sure that Child A made it back to their line before they left to go outside. After Child A went to the bathroom, she sat on a chair behind Aime and Deyonna before they left the classroom. A proper sweep was not done right before they left to go outside, and they forgot Child A in their classroom for around three minutes. Tequila stated that she could not remember the exact day she found Child A in her classroom alone. At around 9:55 a.m., she heard crying coming from Child A's classroom while she was sitting in her office. She left the office and walked towards Aime and Deyonna's classroom, where she observed Child A sitting on the carpet all alone. She knew that Aime and Deyonna had just taken their classroom outside for recess, and she assumed that Child A had been accidentally left in their room alone. Child A was left in her classroom alone for less than five minutes due to Aime and Deyonna just recently leaving for recess. Child A was crying. Child A stated that she was left alone in her classroom. She was left alone in her classroom because she was being quiet.
On September 23, 2025, CI Eddins reviewed footage from September 17, 2025, which was received from Mary. The video footage contained no audio. The camera angle faced down from the ceiling when the video began at 09:50:26 a.m. Aime and Deyonna can be observed lining up their class facing the doorway on the right side of the classroom. Child A, who was wearing a pink shirt, can immediately be observed sitting down on a chair away from the line. Aime can first be observed walking away from the bathroom door and walking towards the front of the line to grab the outdoor bag. Deyonna walks to the front of the line while Aime waits to follow up the rear. At 09:51:20 a.m., the classroom starts to walk out the front door with Aime following behind them. Neither Aime nor Deyonna looked at Child A during the duration of the video. At 09:51:43 a.m., the door is closed, and Child A can be observed sitting on a chair in her classroom alone. At 09:53:10 a.m. Child A can be observed leaving her chair for the first time and walking around the classroom before she sits down on another wooden chair. Child A gets back up, walks around the room, and lies down face-first on the back right carpet. At 09:55:05 a.m. Tequila can be observed entering Child A's classroom and walking towards Child A to take her hand.
On September 25, 2025, CI Eddins interviewed Aime Nzayikorera and Deyonna Johnson. Aime stated that he was working with Deyonna on September 17, 2025. At around 9:55 a.m., he and Deyonna were lining up their classroom to get ready to go outside to the playground. Deyonna counted all the children while he gathered the outside bag near the front door. He remembered being in the back of the line when his class left to go outside. Child A was originally in line and was originally counted while Deyonna conducted her name-to-face count. Child A left the line to use the restroom, but she never walked back in line. He forgot to do another classroom sweep before his children left the room to go outside, and he forgot to check if she got back not the line. Child A was left in the classroom by herself for around three to four minutes. He heard that Tequila was the one who found Child A in the classroom shortly after they left to go outside. Tequila brought Child A outside to play with the other children. Child A appeared frightened when he first observed her. Deyonna stated that she was lining up her classroom and getting ready for recess at around 9:55 a.m. She counted Child A in her line, and she did not know how Child A left her line. She was the line leader while Aime was the caboose during that morning transition. Once she got outside, she noticed that neither she nor Aime had the attendance clipboard to double-check student numbers. Quickly after this realization, she observed Tequila walking outside towards her with Child A in hand. Child A was in the classroom by herself for around two minutes. Tequila heard Child A crying in her room, and she brought Child A to the playground.
|